Machine for transfer printing on circular objects



Oct. 28, 1952 v. J, VENEI'Y 2,615,388

MACHINE RoR TRANSFER RRINT ING N CIRCULAR OBJECTS Filed Dec. 31, 1949 sheets-shan;

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fz J5 7 16 y NVENTOR .MCF/)74j 76.0 [ll BYOXW ATTORNEY v. J. TENETY l 2,615,388

MACHINE FOR TRANSFER PRINTING ON CIRCULAR OBJECTS Y oct. z8, 1952 Filed Dec.` 3l, 1949 um. mlm

,ATTORNE V. J. TENETY Oct. 28, 1952 MACHINE FOR TRANSFER PRINTING ON CIRCULAR OBJECTS 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Dec. 31, 1949 V. J. TENETY Oct. 28, 1952 MACHINE FOR TRANSFER PRINTING ON CIRCULAR OBJECTS Filed Dec. 31, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 n?, 769703/ BY 64u) 6,17

ATTORNEY Oct. 28, 1952 v. J. TENEJ'Y MACHINE FOR TRANSFER PRINTING ON CIRCULAR OBJECTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 31, 1949 j mm2. 5.

INVENTOR 7 ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 28, 1952 MACHINE FCR TRANSFER PRINTING oN CIRCULAR OBJECTS Vincent J. Tenety, Jersey City, N. J.; Helen M. said Vincent J. Tenety,

Tenety executrixv of deceased Application December 31, 1949, Serial No. 136,268

I (Cl. lOl- 38) 16 Claims. 1 This is a new and improved machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly circular section concentric with a single axis. Examples of such objects are vases, jars, and bottles cf round or substantially round horizontal section. The invention will be fully understood from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with certain parts omitted and in a different operative position;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a view of the showing in Fig. 3` on the plane indicated by 4-4;

Fig. 5 is'a view of the showing in Fig. 3 on the plane indicated Aby 5-5;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fragment of the showing in Fig. 1; y

Fig. 7 is a-view of the showing in Fig. 6 on the plane indicated Iby 1-1;

Fig. 8 is a detail of a fragment of the showing in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 9 is a side view of one element of the showing in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 10 is a detail of one element of the showing in Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is an end view of the showing in Fig.

Fig. 12 is a section through Fig. 1 on the plane indicated by I2-I2;

Fig. 13 is a detail of one element of the showing in Figs. l, 2, 4'and 5;

Fig. 14 is a section through part of the construction shown in Fig. 2 on the plane indicated by I4-I4;

Fig. 15 is a view of part of the construction shown in Fig. 2 on the plane indicated lby I5- I5;

Fig. 16 is aV top'view of the construction shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a section through the construction shown in Fig. 15 on the plane indicated by I1- I1;

Fig. 18 is a section through the construction shown in Fig. 15 on the plane indicated by I8- I8;

Figs. 19 and 20 are details of the construction shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 21 is a detail of a fragment of Fig. 3 on the plane indicated by 2I-2I;

Fig. 22 is a detail of a fragment of the showing in Fig. 3 on the plane indicated by 22--22 with intervening parts removed to show cam contours;

Fig. 231s a detail of one element of the showing in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings the machine comprises angle iron legs I, 2, 3 and 4 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) stiifened by longitudinal angle iron braces of which 5, 6 and 1 appear in Fig. 3 and symmetrically disposed braces on the opposite side (not shown) and stiifened also by transverse angle iron braces of whichy 8 and 9 appear in Fig. 4 and I0 and II appear in Fig. 5. rThe table also includes floor I2 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) resting on brace 5 and its corresponding brace on the opposite side. These parts collectively constitute a table or platform I3. Mounted on and extending upwardly from the table or platform are the channel rails I4 and I5 and the angle rail I6 (Figs. 4 and 5). Horizontal plate I1 is secured to the upper anges of channel rails I4 and I5. As evident from'the plan views (Figs. 1 and 2), the plate I1 does not occupy the entire area of the table I3 but, pro contra, is so formed as to leave a space on said table at either end and at the side of plate I1. Plate I1 may be hereinafter referred to as a bed plate. It is of substantial thickness and rigidity and bored throughout with evenly spaced vertical holes. The function of bed plate I1 is to support and carry impression plates I8, I9, 20, 2|, 22 and 23, and the purpose of the verticalholes (Fig. 6) in the bed plate is to facilitate the easy clamping of the impression plates in position by means of studs 24 and set screws 25 (Fig. 7). l

Longitudinally extending metal strips 26 and 21 (Figs. 4 and 5) are secured to the outer edges `of channel rail I4 and of angle rail I6. These strips 26 and 21 vcarry longitudinally extending racks 28 and 29 running the full length of platform I3 (Figs. 1-5). 3l (Figsjl, 2 and`9) is a transversely extend- 'ing offset'roller, i. e., a transfer roller, the cylindrical surface of which is made up of a relatively soft and yielding material, such as the particular grade of rubber suited to offset printing. This roller is mounted on axle 32 splined at either end to spur gears 33 and 34 running in racks 28 and 29.l "g

The impression plates I8, I9 and 2I'I4 (Figsyl and 2) are mounted in line on one side of bed plate I1. The impression plates 2|, 22 and 23 are mounted in line on the other side of bed plate I1. These impression plates are ordinarily made by a photo-engraving process so that each impression plate carries rin relief that part of the design to be printed which is to be reproduced in a selected color. The position of the impression In the device as illustrated I have shown three impression plates for three color printing but it will be understood that I may, if desired, use only two color plates in succession for two color printing, or may alternatively, if desired, use any number of impression plates for the printing of a greater number of colors by suitably extending the length of bed plate I1 and of the cooperating racks 28 and 29. Within certain aspects of the invention I may use only a single impression plate for the transfer printing of a single color.

Inasmuch as the racks 28 and 29 extend the full length of table I3 and considerably beyond bed plate I1 (Figs. 1 and 2) it will be noted that offset roller 3| is capable of executing at least a complete turn at the end 35 of the device after rolling out of contact with the impression plate nearest end 35.

While within certain aspects of the invention the offset roller 3| may be manipulated by hand by means of the handles 36 and 31, in the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide means for mechanically operating the same. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, this includes double acting air cylinder 38 operating piston 39, which air cylinder is rigidly secured to table I3. Piston 39 is connected to horizontally moving cross-head 42 slidably guided by the horizontally extending rod 43 (Fig. 3) secured at one end to vertical leg I of table I3 by fitting 44, and at the other end to vertical leg 2 of table I 3 by fitting 45 (Fig. 3). Cross-head 42 carries horizontal bar 48, to which bar the sprockets 41 and 48 are rotatably secured. The ends and 52 of chain 53 are anchored respectively to the ends of bar 46 (Figs. A

3 and l0). Sprockets 54 and 55 are rotatably mounted on channel rail I4. From end-5| chain 53 passes (Fig. 3) over sprocket 54, thence over sprocket 41 and thence over sprocket 56 rotatably mounted on plate 21. The chain extends thence I to and over sprocket 51 rotatably mounted on plate 21, thence over sprockety 48, thence over sprocket 55 to end 52 attached to the other end of bar 46. Shaft 32, by which offset roller 3| is carried, is provided (Fig. 8) with a rotatably fitting annulus 58 (the outer race of ball bearing 59). With cross-head 42 in mid-position with reference to the over-all stroke of piston 39, and with offset cylinder 3| in mid-position horizontally, the annulus 58 is secured to chain 53 by tting 60 (Fig. 8). As a result of this construction, when piston 39 of air cylinder 40 moves in one direction, offset cylinder 3| is thereby propelled at twice the rate and for twice the distance in the opposite direction and vice versa. This colors of ink to the various impression plates |8-23. As illustrated in Fig. 1, this includes the rolls 6|, 62 and 63, each divided longitudinally into three separate sections to prevent intermixing of the respective inks. Roll 62 is mounted on shaft 64 rotatably carried in suitable bearings, which shaft issplined to V-pulley `65 (Figs. l and 4).y This pulley (Fig. 4) is directly driven through V-belt 66 by motor 61. Roll 6I is carried by shaft 1| which is rotatably and slidably mounted in suitable bearings (Figs. l, 2 and 14). Roll 6I contacts and. is driven by roll 62 (Fig. 14). Shaft 1I is splined (Figs. 1 and 12) to the eccentric 12 co-acting with stationary dog 13 so that as the roll 6I turns, it is also oscillated longitudinally to effect more eiicient spreading of ink. Roll 63 is carried by shaft 14 which also is rotatably and slidably carried in suitable bearings. Shaft 14 is similarly splined (Figs. l and 412) to eccentric 15 co-acting with dog 16. Roll 83 contacts and is driven by roll 62 (Fig. 14) and in turning also oscillates longitudinally to effect more efcient spreading of the ink. Roll 63 is preferably of metal. The desired color ink is applied intermittently by hand to the corresponding section of the rolls and is Worked up by the rolls into a continuous fllm covering uniformly that section of the surfaces of the rolls to which it is applied. vRolls 63 and 64 may therefore be designated as ink distributing rolls while roll 6| may be designated as an ink supplying roll since this is the roll which furnishes the ink to the inking roller 11 carried by shaft 18. This roller is correspondingly divided into three sections. Shaft 18 is carried in ball bearings 19 and 80, the outer races offwhich (Fig. 23) do not turn but carry rotatablythe pulleys 8| and 82, which track respectively on transverse guide bars 84 and 85 (Figs. 1,.2 ,and 13). As a consequence of this construction, inking roller 11 rolls horizontally over the impression plates and on returning rolls down into contact with the ink supplying roll 6| by which the films of ink on roller 11 of the respective colors are renewed. The relative positions ofthe rolls and roller 11 at this stage appear in Fig. 14.

Preferably means is provided for automatically moving roller 'I1 over the impressionplatesvand back into contact with the roll 6|. This means (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) includes the single acting spring return air cylinder 85 pivotally mounted by the fitting 91 on floor I2 at its lower end operating piston 88 pivotally connected to crank 81 pinned to shaft 88. Shaft 88 is rotatably mounted in bearings suitably supported by table I3, the ends of shaft 88 being secured respectively -to cranks 89 and 98 (Fig. 3). These cranks terminate at their upper end respectively in-clevises 9|. and 92 connected (Fig. 23) to links 93 and 94, the other ends of which are rigidly connected to the outer races of ball bearings 19 and 80. As a consequence of this construction the spring |Il| normally holds piston 86 extended and in this position roller 11 is in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 14, in which it is in rolling contact with, and is receiving a fresh supply of ink from, the surface of ink supplying roll 8 I When, however, air is admitted to the cylinder 85, piston86 is retracted, with the result that roller 11 moves in the direction indicated by arrow |82 (Fig. 1) toV pose I provide (Figs. 2, 3, and 16) bed adjacent .the end 35 of the apparatus. This bed -is vertically adjustable to bring the'axis of'theobject'to be printed into the horizontal plane of the axis of the `offset roller. To that end it is supported by angles |||'and ||2 secured to vertical strips (two on either side), of which |3'and ||4 appear in Fig. 15, by horizontal compression strips ||5 locked n position by bolts ||6 and ||1 (Figs. 19 and 20). The vertical strips aresecured (Figs. 4 and 15) at top and bottom respectively to channels |4 and I5 by angles ||8. Bed ||0 is provided with stationary rails I I9 and |2|). Platform |2| (Fig. 15) is provided with channels |22 and |23 cooperating respectively with rails I9 and- |2|) by which the platform is guided rectilinearly and may be moved back and forthin a direction parallel to the rails I9 and |20, which is also parallel to the direction of racks 28 and 29. Platform |2| carries the associated pair of upstanding arms |25 and |26. The arm |25 carries the rollers'l21, |28, |29 and |36 (Fig. 18) and the arm |28carries the rollers |3|, |32 and |33 (Fig. 17). The number and location of the rollers will of course be changed to accommodate the size and form of the particular object being printed. In consequence 'of this construction, a bottle or other object to be printed may be easily and quickly placed in position between the upper ends of the arms |25 and |26 nesting in rollers |21-|33 and will be held in this position, freely rotatable by any external force. A similar construction is provided between the companion upstanding arms |34 and |35. Platform |2| is continuously urged (Fig. 16) in the direction indicated by arrow |36 by tension springs |31' and |38'anchored to cross-bar |39 (Fig. 5). Stop |4| (Fig. i6) is provided to prevent 'the platform from moving beyond edge |42 of bed I0. Because of this oonstruotion, when transfer roller 3| is over the impression plates platform |2| yhas moved as far as possible in the direction indicated by arrow |36 and is in contact with stop lili. When, however, transfer roller 3| passes off of the impression plates in the reverse direction indicated by arrow |48 (Fig. 2) it contacts the objects to be printed and in yits progressive rolling toward end of table I3 imparts this rolling motion tothe objects to be printed. This rolling motion of transfer roller 3| continues until the design has been coinpletely transferred to, and impressed upon, the objects to be printed. 'This is made possible by the fact that platform |2| does not resist the rolling motion of offset roller 3| because it is entirely free to and does move freely in the direction indicated by arrow (Fig. 2). After the transfer roller has completed this movement, Ait is automatically returned to and over the impression plates while platform l2 I, under the tension exerted by springs |31 and |38, moves automatically back to its original position in contact with stop |4|. At this moment the operator removes the printed objects and replaces them with objects which have .not yet been printed, whereupon the operation is repeated.

In a case where vthe 'object to be printed u pon is of yielding construction, as for example, a deformable bottle or similar container made of thin-Walled plastic material, I find i1', advisable to provide on platform 2| some meansfor limiting the pressure exerted between the lobject and the transfer roller. Oneway of accomplishing this purpose is to provide (Fig. 16) on platform |2| the upstanding arms |5| and |52 provided with rollers |53 and |54. These rollers are adjustable vrelative to the arms |25 and |26 Vand the rollers |21|32 carried thereby. This may be accomplished either by making arms |5| and |52 adjustable on platform |2| in the direction of movement of the platform, or alternatively by making arms |25 and |26 similarly adjustable. In the specific embodiment of my invention shown I have made the arms |25, |26, |34 and |35 adjustable so that the arms may be adjustably secured in position on platform I2 However made, the adjustment is such that when the o'ifset roller 3| is in contact with the objects to be printed, the rollers |53 and |54 are also in contact with the offset rollerfto take up a part of the pressure transmitted to platform |2| and thereby prevent the application of undue force to'theobjects to be printed, which would deform the objects with the resultant smearing of the design.

For the purpose of operating the device in the desired sequence, I provide in addition the' fol-1 lowing equipment. The shaft |62 (Fig. 4) driven byI motor B1 is provided with two V-pulleys. Pulley |63 (Fig. 4) drives V-belt |64 running over driven pulley |65 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). The driven pulley |65 drives shaft |66 journaled in the up-l standing flanges |61 and |68 (Fig. 3) carried by floor |`2. Through coacting spurgears 1| and |12.l it also drives reversely shaft |13 similarly journalled in the upstanding flanges |61 and |68. Shaft |66 carries two cams, |14 and |15 (Figs. 3, 2l and 22), co-acting with dual control air valve |16. The shaft |13 carries cams |11 and |18 als cooperating with air valve |14l Air valve |16 (Fig. 3) is connected to a supply of air under pressure from pipe |8| through T-connection |82 and is in turn connected to air cylinder 38 through tubes |83 and |84. By reason of this construction when these cams are in one position air cylinder 38 is receiving air under pressure at end |85 and discharging freely at end |86 to move the piston in onedirection, and when the cams `have turned through an angle of this operation is reversed, with the result that the cylinder is receiving air at the end |86 and discharging freely at the end |85. Thus the Vmovement of driven pulley |65 through an angle vof 360 operates to complete the cycle of movement of piston 39, thereby moving transfer roller `3| from the position indicated in Fig. 1 over the entire length of bed I1 and reversely back to this position.

The single acting air cylinder 85 is supplied with air through tube |88 from single acting air valve |89, with the result that when the transfer cylinder 3| has moved into printing contact with the objects to be printed and has therefore cleared bed |1, cam |92 (Figs. 3 and 22) operates valve |89 thereby introducing air under pressure to the end |93 of air cylinder 85, thereby retracting piston 86, with the result that inking roller 11 is moved from the position indicated in Fig. 2 over the impression plates. As soon as cam |92 releases the air valve |89 the contained air under pressure bleeds itself out of cylinder 85, with the result that piston B6 extends and inking roller 11 returns to the position shown in Fig. 2; In this position it does not interfere with the longitudinal movement of transfer roller 3| over bed |1 and the movement of roller 3| over the bed is timed to be completed while ink applying roller 11 is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

In actual practice the sequence of operations occurs with considerable rapidity and I nd it possible with 'my apparatus to make about ten fore my intention that the invention be limited only by the appended claims or their equivalents wherein I have endeavored to claim broadly-all inherent novelty. Y

I claim:

1. In a machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly circular section concentric with a single axis including a bed plate, means for securing at least one impression plate to said lbed plate, and a transfer roller, the improvement of means guiding said transfer roller rectilineally over in rolling contact with and beyond such impression plate, means holding such an object freely rotatable about its axis with said axis parallel to the axis of said transfer roller, a horizontal platform carrying said means holding, horizontal channels carried by said platform, horizontal rails cooperating therewith'xed' to said machine, said channels and rails being oriented in the direction of translation of said transfer roller, and means yieldingly urging said platform and said means holding carried thereby toward said transfer roller, whereby following initial contact between said object and said transferroller the two continue in rolling contact and the image is transferred from said transfer roller to said object. y

2. A machine according to claim: l including also means limiting the pressure between said object and said transfer roller in rolling contact.

3. A machine according to claim 1 including also 4rollers carried by said platform adapted to make rolling contact with said transfer roller when said transfer roller is in rolling contact with said object and adjustable with respect to said means holding to limit the pressure between said object and said transfer roller in rolling contact.

l. In a machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly circular section concentric with a single axis including a bed plate, means for securing at least one impression, plate to said bed plate, and a transfer roller, the improvement of means guiding said transfer roller rectilineally over in rolling contact with yand beyond such impression plate, means holding such an object freely rotatable about its axis with said axis parallelito the axis of said transferroller, a horizontal platform carrying said means holding, horizontal channels carried by said platform, horizontal rails cooperating therewith fixed to said machine, said channels and rails being oriented in the direction of translation of said transfer roller, means yieldingly urging said platform and the means holding carried thereby toward said transfer roller and mechanical means moving said transferroller over in rolling contact with such impression plate and beyond in rolling contact with said object.

5. A machine according to claim 4 including also means limiting the pressure between said object and said transfer roller in rolling contact.

6. A machine according toV claim 4 including also rollers carried by said platform adapted to make rolling contact with said transfer roller when said transfer roller is in rolling contact with said object and adjustable with respect to said means holding to limit the pressure between said object and said transfer roller in rolling contact.

7. In a machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly -circular section concentric with a single axis including' a bed plate, means for securing at least one impression plate to said bed plate and a transfer roller, the improvement of at least one rack, at least one spur gear coaxial With said transfer roller, said rack and gear guiding said transfer roller rectilineally over in rolling contact with and beyond such impression plate, at least one track parallel to said rack, a platform slidable upon said track,

means carried by said platform holding such an object freely rotatable about its axis with its axis parallel to the axis of said transfer roller, said platform being slidable upon said track with said object in rolling contact ,with said transfer roller and means yieldingly urging said platform toward said transfer roller.

8. A machine according to claim '7 including also rollers carried by said platform adapted to make rolling contact with said transfer roller when said transfer roller is in rolling Contact with said object and adjustable with respect to said means holding to limit the pressure between said object and said transfer roller in rolling contact.

9. In a machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly circular section concentric with a single axis, including a bed plate, means for securing at least one impression plate to said bed plate, and a transfer roller, the improvement of at least one rack, at least one spur gear co-axial with said transfer roller, said rack and gear guiding said transfer roller rectilineally over in rolling contact with and beyond such impression plate, at least one track parallel' to said rack, a platform slidable upon said track, means carried by said platform holding such an object freely rotatable about its axis with its axis parallel to the axis of said transfer roller, said platform being slidable upon said track with said object in rolling Contact with said transfer roller and mechanical means moving said transfer roller over in rolling contact with such impression plate and beyond in rolling contact with said object and means yieldingly urging said platform toward said transfer roller.

10. A machine according to claim 9 including also rollers carried by said platform adapted to make rolling contact with said transfer roller when said transfer roller is in rolling contact with said object and adjustable with respect to said means holding to limit the pressure between said object and said transfer roller in rolling contact.

1l. In a machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly circular section concentric with a single axis, including a bed plate, means for securing at least one impression plate to said bed plate, a transfer roller, and means guiding said transfer roller rectilineally over in rolling contact with said impression plate, the improvement of an ink distributing and an ink supplying roll parallel to said means guiding said transfer roller, an inking roller parallel to said ink supplying roll, means guiding said inking roller in a direction normal tothe movement of said transfer roller,and mechanical means moving said inking roller over said last mentioned guide means in rolling contact with such impression plate and back into rolling contact with said ink supplying roll.

12. A machine according to claim 11 in which said mechanical means comprises an air cylinder secured to said machine, a fitting carried by the piston of said air cylinder, two sprockets rotatably carried by said fitting, two sprockets secured to said machine, an open end chain, the ends of which are secured to said tting running over said sprockets and rotatably secured to said transfer roller adjacent the middle thereof.

13. In a machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly circular section concentric with a single axis including a bed plate, means for securing at least one impression plate to said bed plate, and a transfer roller, the improvement of means guiding said transfer roller rectilineally over in rolling contact With and beyond such impression plate, means holding such an object freely rotatable about its axis with said axis parallel to the axis of said transfer roller, a platform carrying said means holding, horizontal channels ycarried by said platform, horizontal rails cooperating therewith fixed to said machine, said channels and rails being oriented in said rectilineal direction, means yieldingly urging said lplatform and said means holding carried thereby toward said transfer roller, mechanical means moving said transfer roller over in rolling contact with such impression plate and beyond in rolling contact with said object, ink distributing and ink supplying rolls parallel to said means guiding said transfer roller, an inking roller parallel to said ink supplying roll, means guiding said inking roller in a direction normal to the movement of said transfer roller, and mechanical means moving said inking roller over said last mentioned guide means in rolling contact with such impression plate and back into rolling contact with said ink supplying roll.

14. A machine according to claim 13 including also means limiting the pressure between said object and said transfer roller in rolling contact.

15. In a machine for transfer printing on objects of roughly circular section concentric with a single axis including a bed plate, means for securing at least one impression plate to said bed plate, and a transfer roller, the improvement of at least one rack, at least one spur gear coaxial with said transfer roller, said rack and gear guiding said transfer roller rectilineally over in rolling contact with and beyond such impression plate, at least one track parallel to said rack, a platform slidable upon said track, means carried by said platform holding such an object freely rotatable about its axis with its axis parallel to the axis of said transfer roller, said platform being slidable upon said track with said object in rolling contact with said transfer roller, means yieldingly urging said platform towards said transfer roller, an ink distributing and an ink supplying roll parallel to said rack, an inking roller parallel to said ink supplying roll, means guiding said inking roller in a direction normal to the movement of said transfer roller and mechani-cal means moving said inking roller over said last mentioned guide means in rolling contact with such impression plate and back into rolling contact with said ink supplying roller.

16. A machine according to claim 15 including also rollers carried by saidplatform adapted to make rolling contact with said transfer roller when said transfer roller is in rolling Contact with said object and adjustable with respect to said means holding to limit the. pressure between said objectand said transfer roller in rolling contact.

VINCENT J. TENE'I'Y.

No references cited. 

